Help needed with system design!

[Chronic]

hey yall

First off.. what is the advantage of having more than one sub? (stupid question but i dont know..).. Also, I'm still working out what size subs, what brand, and how many i should get.. no more than 2 though. I mainly listen to metal.. any ideas? My front stage is a set of JBL GTO 5" splits (the 6's didnt fit ). (No 6x9's )

And I've heard that if i do end up getting 2 subs, i should get a dedicated amp? But then i can't run the splits off the amp? bah.. maybe just one sub, bridge 2 channels and save the other 2 for the splits?

I have really gotta work this out soon, so far i've been through about 4 weeks trying to work out what to get.. (and yes i've posted similar threads before.. but i need help! sorry guys

i still dont know what kind of amp ill need.. like the wrms/power or whatever it's called.. remember im dumb.. =]

Should I go ported or sealed though? im thinking sealed.. but thats mainly due to the fact that i was going to build the box myself, and it would be easier.. but since then ive been looking at premade boxes with subs already in them with the connectors/carpeted etc.. im not good with wood (or anything for that matter ) so i dunno.. there's a ported 12" Kicker pro box at strathfield for like $400 or so.. but i dont have that kinda money to spend all on a sub.. i have about ~$700 to get BOTH, just depends on how much i want to work to get all this..

:D

[gti6]

I personally think 1 10" sub in a sealed box is heaps, or 12" if you're keen.

This makes it easier if you've got a 4 channel amp, run 2 channels to the splits, bridge the other two for the sub.

Too easy!

If you listen to metal, definately go sealed - more punchy and it'll cater for a greater spectrum of bass notes, well at least more evenly than most ported boxes. Actually, I won't hang too much shit on ported boxes, it's just really hard to get right in a car.

As for bang for your buck, the jaycar 10" double magnet jobbies seem to be a good choice, and you can pick up pre-fabbed carpeted boxes from Ryda for $90 from memory - they look sweet (curved MDF edges, instead of an angular wedge shaped box).

Not really up to date with the brand name subs, I hear JLs are good - but you'll be paying a lot more.

Cheers,
Adrian

[tomee]

dop you mean you have $700 to spend on both the amp and sub?

depnds really on what u like? are u a bass head that loves that rumble? or are u the person that likes bass but more of a SQ quality about it? but you said your into metal, then yeah selaed woould work well with that as long as the box dimensions are set before building the box.

it really depnds on YOUR ears.. go into a store and demo some subs they have...

to save money as you have limited to spend i recommend building your own box... i was like you in sayin that im not good with wood work etc etc. but i gave it a go and i tell ya what it was heaps of fun making a box! just take ya time. spray it do wateva you reckon your confident in doin to it, at the end you will be very pleased that you did all that work yourself.

[teK]

For a $700 amp/sub budget I think you should stick to one sub. I never stop recommending JLs and you should be very happy with a 12W0 or 10W0, get the larger if you want slightly higher power handling. These can be had for about $180.

For an amp go for a Coustic 4x40WRMS, 40W for each front side, and bridge the remaining two to give the sub 160WRMS which is plenty for this sub.

As Tomee mentioned building your own box saves a lot of money, and gives you the satisfaction. A sealed box is very easy to build and you can even buy the wood pre-cut to exact specifications from a Cabinet maker for next to nothing, no screwing around with a jigsaw ;). For my first ported box, I bought the MDF pre-cut to a 0.5mm tolerance from this place that makes wooden manicans for $40!!!

[the bucket]

Icould not agree more
JL is definately the way to go
they are a true budget sub
not budget in the price but in their power performance
some subs need a lot of power to get going but a JL 12wo
will work with very little power they are rated at only 125 RMS
but will handle way more
so get this sub for now
sealed is good but ported is better (more bang for buck)
but is also more difficult
run it of a 4 chnl amp and later on get a dedicated amp for the sub
and add another sub and then use your 4chnl amp for your front and rear channels
that way you havn't wasted any money

[krisko]

Im with Tek, you won't get better for the money, infact you could do a lot worse with MORE money!

Get a JL 12wo and get the Coustic Amp...And get decent wiring especially the RCA's

[macks]

I'm gonna be a little different here, and suggest the adire audio shiva. 12", dual 8ohm voice coils, more than an inch of linear movement and can handle all the power you throw at it (rated 350WRMS per coil). I've got one in a medium sized sealed box in my room and it's more than capable of annoying the surrounding neighbourhood. It hits low and hard, takes everything you throw at it and comes back for more.. You can't ask for much more :)

Oh, and they're $300. Click this link for my DIY subwoofer homepage...

http://members.iinet.net.au/~mcn/macks/stereo/sub.htm

...and you'll be building a box for less than $50 and a few hours of your time.

[teK]

Those Americans never stop raving about their Shivas, but what about Earthquake Magmas? And does anyone know local availability of the Shivas? Shipping a sub from the US would be ridiculously expensive.

[macks]

Originally posted by teK
Those Americans never stop raving about their Shivas, but what about Earthquake Magmas? And does anyone know local availability of the Shivas? Shipping a sub from the US would be ridiculously expensive.

It is, approx twice the price :rolleyes:
Luckily, there's an Aussie distributor, a shiva cost me $300 from acoustic concepts, at: www.acousticconcepts.com.au

I'm thinking of making a massive dual-tempest dual-amp 1kW ported arrangement designed for 10hz to 35hz. Home theatre maybe? :p

[SirGoat]

Might i recomend the jaycar amps, in yourcase the 4x100 would be quite nice. Making 2x100 and 1x300, would run a nice JL 12w0. And all up with a premade box and connectors would fit nicly to your budget.

I have heard nothing but good stuff about the jaycar amps and heard a few nice installs with them, they are quite clean amps, infact they are often overlooked because of there price.

I myself want to get a 2x150 for my splits then move it to the planned sub later on.

I personaly prefer sealed sub install rather than ported interms of sound quality. Also port for beginers can be a pain because there are alot of variables to consider.

Also what car do you have? 1x10" is quite nice in a small hatch/coupe but would be pritty empty and lacking a a station wagon.

[teK]

Thanks for that Macks... I can only imagine what's going to happen when I finally get around to buying a house, since after all that IS the biggest purchase most people make in their lives. That means a BIG sound system too :).

[macks]

For sure, my ideal house consists of (so far) 5 car garage with hoist and adjoining workshop, dedicated HT room with part false floor covering a coupla-cubic meter cavity that'll become a sub box ... a big f-off open plan room with a million couches and party PA system - linked to HT sub whose configuration can be altered through removable panels to provide bass to the other room, but this time using the HT room as the effective box :D , another room of similar size with a massive futon bed and funky furniture for doin the dirty... and, I guess off to the side somewhere out the back there'll be a kitchen, bathroom.. all that kinda incedental stuff :p


oh, and out the back there'll be a helipad, cricket net, tennis court, racetrack, dragstip, skidpan ....

[pearlvk]

i think ill be visiting u when this happens macks:D